Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Kelly had her MRI today. We went to Dr. Muhonen's office right afterward and looked at the the scans with him. The scans look good - just like the last one. There is no highlighting in the area where the tumor was. He was very happy with the results. There is a small area of enhancement, but it has always been there and Dr. Muhonen is not concerned with it. It is possibly post op changes. So we are very relieved tonight! Especially since she has had headaches this week, which is very unusual for her. I think she is just fighting off a virus - she is taking a nap right now! It was nice to see you today Erin!

Kelly was asked to attend the CHOC Gala in Newport Beach later this month as a greeter. This is a big fundraiser for CHOC, and since it is all about the kids, they asked some patients to come and be greeters for the guests.

Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers for Kelly. We appreciate it so much and the power of prayer is so evident in her. We are so blessed.

Hooray! We are always so relieved to read about a good clear MRI after holding our breathe all day waiting! Thanks for keeping everyone updated! I hope you have plans for a little celebrating tonight! Hope you're feeling better soon Kelly! This news should help! I'm sure your whole family will sleep well tonight! Keep beating those odds! We love ya Kelly!

KELLY, I ALWAYS WRITE THE DATE OF YOUR MRI ON THE CALENDAR AND THEN ALL DAY I CHECK MY E-MAIL. IT IS SUCH A RELIEF TO READ THE GOOD NEWS. YOU ARE DOING GREAT AND ARE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS.KATHY, THANKS FOR KEEPING EVERYONE INFORMED. I IMAGINE THAT AT TIMES THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS WRITE A BLOG. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. IT MUST GIVE YOU COMFORT. KEEP THE FAITH. LOVE, MARILYN

So happy to hear the MRI is over and the results were stable. Thanks Kathy for your sweet post on Taylor's CB site. The support of friends like you and others in this PBT world has been a life-saver for me in more ways than you know. I hope Kelly gets over her headaches, kicks this virus, and starts feeling better soon. Your family is always in my prayers. Kathleen Gettinger- Taylor's mom http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/taylorgettinger

Hi Kelly! Such GREAT news!! You looked so healthy and happy in your vacation photos, I just knew your MRI was going to come out clear. You truly are a walking miracle. You continue to be in our prayers and those of my students.

Love,Laurie and Mark

P.S. Mr. Turtle would come out and congratulate you, but he's all tucked in the ground and hibernating.

Yippeee! God Bless. Great news. Prayers are always coming your way. So what will you wear to the gala? Rest up so that you are feeling good by then! Happiest of New Year wishes to you all!!! the Nicolosi Family

I was SO HAPPY AND RELIEVED to read about your MRI!!! Praise be to God for many, many answered prayers!! I hope you are feeling much better now!

I also agree with the friend who said you looked happy and healthy on your vacation! What fun you had...all the pictures were GREAT!!! You and your sisters are SO CUTE!!!Thanks, Kathy for always sharing pictures with everyone...

Have a lovely time at the CHOC event.

Sent with Love and Prayers,Patty J.

P.S. Kathy...I could not agree with you more on the Power of Prayer!!!! Amen!!!

Call for Prayer Time: PLEASE JOIN OUR PRAYER VIGIL MONDAY, JANUARY 19TH, 2009 BETWEEN THE HOURSOF 8-9 PM. EST. FOR ALL THE FAMILIES AND ADULTS WHO HAVE EARNED THEIR WINGS. ANGEL_WINGS PRAYER TEAM AND ANGEL_WINGS Remembers.1 Samuel 1:27

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him .

Hi Kelly - we had about an inch of snow today! It was very pretty but since most everyone except for us :( was off of work they did not clean off the roads so now we have ice! I would send you a snowball but don't think that would make it out there very well so it is the thought that counts...

Val is on her way tomorrow to Seattle. I would like to see Puget Sound and Seattle I think. It is, however, a long long drive! If she was here she could have taken the snowball in a cooler to Seattle and delivered it!

We are not much alike and it would have been worth it just to see the look on her face when I said take this snowball to California if you don't mind while you are out there!

Every year I scoop up some snow and keep it in the freezer. On those smoggy, gross humid days when it is a gazillion degrees and you cannot breathe I get out my baggie of snow and just look at it for a minute and it makes me feel better. Better in that refrigerator than on the sidewalks - I broomed (I say that to irritate Ken even though he won't see this!) my sidewalk and Victor's parent's today because this snow was not heavy!

Hi Kelly! This should have been chemo day, yes? I hope it went well and that you are feeling okay.

It dawned on me last nite when I finished "Twilight" that there really is an advantage to reading a series of books after they come out. I can finish one and immediately start the other :) I downloaded the second book last nite! Happy reading to me :)

Kelly's Story

Kelly was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumor) in July, 2007. She had surgery to have the tumor removed at Children's Hospital of Orange County in Orange, California. After one round of radiation and chemotherapy, she had another surgery to remove a recurrent tumor on October 22. She is receiving further treatment to try to prevent another recurrence. This website is to keep friends and family updated on her journey and her progress. She loves to read comments posted here for her!

Treatment Plan8/07 - 9/07 30 days radiation along with 42 days of oral temodar. Her first post radiation MRI showed recurrence of her tumor, so this treatment was changed.

11/16 Gamma Knife Radiosurgery - attempt to create a "boundary" to contain cancer cells to the one area of her brain

11/07 to present Irinotecan (also known as CPT-11) and Avastin given every other week

Leave a message for Kelly...

A big thank you to everyone who has posted messages to the blog. Kelly checks them everyday and it means so much to her to hear from all of you and know you are thinking of her. It really makes her happy to know so many people are cheering her on.

If you'd like to post a message and aren't sure how, go down to the bottom of the post that you would like to add a comment to and click on comments. If someone has already posted a comment, you will also see a number telling how many people have commented. Then login or create a new account, which is easy. You just need a name and password. If you post under "anonymous" please remember to sign your name so we know who it is from.

If you click on anonymous, you don't have to have an identity or password, so that may be easier!